Sino-British Negotiations and the Hong Kong Handover (1984–1997)

1. Thatcher and Deng meet in Beijing

   Sep 24, 1982Labels: Margaret Thatcher, Deng Xiaoping, Beijing

   • Britannica
   • WP

2. Sino-British negotiations begin on Hong Kong

   Jul 1, 1983Labels: China, United Kingdom, Negotiations

   • UPI
   • Britannica

3. Draft Sino-British Joint Declaration initialed

   Sep 18, 1984Labels: Joint Declaration, Negotiators, Annexes

   • PRC MFA
   • HK CMAB

4. Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in Beijing

   Dec 19, 1984Labels: Margaret Thatcher, Zhao Ziyang, Sino-British Joint

   • HK CMAB
   • Britannica
   • WP

5. Joint Declaration enters into force

   May 27, 1985Labels: Ratification, China, United Kingdom

   • HK CMAB
   • PRC MFA

6. Basic Law Drafting Committee formed

   Jun 1, 1985Labels: Basic Law, National People

   • BLDC Wiki
   • Basic Law Wiki

7. First BLDC meeting held

   Jul 1, 1985Labels: Basic Law, BLDC meeting, Drafting process

   • BLDC Wiki
   • Basic Law Wiki

8. Basic Law promulgated by National People’s Congress

   Apr 4, 1990Labels: National People, Basic Law, HKSAR

   • BLDC Wiki
   • Basic Law Wiki

9. Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance commences

   Jun 7, 1991Labels: Bill of, Hong Kong, ICCPR

   • HKBORO Wiki

10. Airport Core Programme MoU signed

    Sep 3, 1991Labels: Airport Core, John Major, Li Peng

    • ACP Wiki

11. Chris Patten arrives as last Governor

    Jul 9, 1992Labels: Chris Patten, Governor of, Late colonial

    • UPI
    • Chris Patten

12. Preliminary Working Committee established by Beijing

    Jul 1, 1993Labels: Preliminary Working, Beijing, HKSAR preparation

    • UK Parliament
    • Handover Wiki

13. Patten electoral reform bill passed in LegCo

    Jun 30, 1994Labels: Patten reforms, Legislative Council, Electoral reform

    • 1994 Reform
    • Handover Wiki

14. First fully elected colonial-era LegCo election

    Sep 17, 1995Labels: Legislative Council, Hong Kong, 1995 election

    • 1995 LegCo
    • UPI

15. Tung Chee-hwa chosen as first Chief Executive

    Dec 11, 1996Labels: Tung Chee-hwa, Selection Committee, Chief Executive

    • CE Election
    • LAT

16. Provisional Legislative Council members selected

    Dec 21, 1996Labels: Provisional Legislative, Selection Committee, Interim legislature

    • PLC Wiki
    • CE Election

17. Provisional Legislative Council begins operation

    Jan 25, 1997Labels: Provisional Legislative, Operation start, Legislative bridge

    • PLC Wiki

18. Hong Kong sovereignty transferred to China

    Jul 1, 1997Labels: Hong Kong, HKSAR, People s

    • Britannica
    • china org cn
    • Handover Wiki